2018 Riverdale Share Performers

Keep checking in. New performer bios added daily…

Your Host – Mike Tanner

Mike sings and plays guitar with local stalwarts the Circumstantialists, regularly rehabbing the dregs of last century’s pop catalogue. He is the City of Toronto’s Music Sector Development Officer. @abbottheleme

Spraoi

In case you’re wondering it’s pronounced “Spree”.A collection of musicians who bring their various talents to the table resulting in a unique blend of traditional Irish/Canadian and European sounds. Everyone has at least three other projects on the go including The East Pointers, The Chieftains, The Stepcrew, Tara Nova and The Carlos Nunez Band but we’re all brought together through the session at Dora Keogh’s on a Thursday night. There alter ego, the “Cabbagetown Ceili Band”, play wedding ceilis and dances across Southern Ontario and into upstate New York. On any given night you’ll find a button accordion, fiddle, piano or guitar, bodhran, banjo and flute laying down the tunes. With founding accordionist Pat Simmonds at the helm, Sproai continue bringing the best of the Irish tradition to Canadian audiences.  spraoi.ca

Julian Taylor

 Lorraine Segato

For the past 40 years Lorraine Segato has fueled an impressive artistic career that’s produced some excellent and edgy cultural work. Her extensive experience as Singer- Songwriter, Artistic Director, Filmmaker, and Social Justice Ambassador makes Segato one of Canada’s iconic recording artists and respected cultural commentators. Since the release of her CD Invincible Decency, she has also curated a Cultural Artifact Exhibit entitled QSW- The Rebel Zoneand is presently working on a new podcast series called Smolder. lorrainesagato.com

Whitehorse

Since their debut, JUNO Award winning duo Whitehorse has evolved from magnetic folk duo to full-blown rock band. In truth, Whitehorse is never fully either one or the other, but an ever-evolving creative partnership that challenges both artists to explore new instrumental and lyrical terrain with each project. This fall, Whitehorse returns to the early days of electric blues with new songs from The Northern South Vol. 2, the second instalment of the band’s deep dive into 1950s/1960s blues. The Northern South Vol. 2 will be released in full in January 2019. whitehorsemusic.ca

Dirty Dishes

Dirty Dishes is a boot-stomping’, harmony-driven roots-trio featuring Suzy Wilde, Lisa Olafson and Alison Porter. They’ve got mud on their boots and cowgirl crinolines, with a little bit of charm and a whole lotta sass. For over a decade, they’ve been breaking hearts and soothing souls at clubs, fairs, festivals and events across Canada. They are currently at home in Toronto recording their fourth album at Canterbury Studios. dirty-dishes.ca

Jen Schaffer and the Shiners

Jen Schaffer and the Shiners hail from Riverdale, Toronto via Montreal, Hamburg, Calgary and the UK! They have been purveyors of original soulful folkrock music with lush harmonies and funky bass for ten year!  Jen Schaffer is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist. She came to music via a stint as a public defender in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio, where she gained a love of alt-country music and a heightened social conscience. Her self-penned works speak of love, struggle and injustice and are sharply focused through the lens of her own life journey.  The Shiners are Simon Law – drums, keyboards & producer; Astrid Foster – bass; John Teshima – guitars; and Jonathan Marks – violin. jenschaffer.ca

Bain & Bernard Comedy Company

Warren Bain and Matt Bernard are a Toronto comedic writing team. Their work is noted for its vaudeville and street performance influence, and they are known for drastic comedic overhauls of Shakespeare. Their work has been produced in Toronto, different cities in Ontario, and the United States. Since 2009 they have created a range of projects from full-scale theatrical productions, to multi-character immersive experiences for smaller events, to hosting a wedding or two. bainandbernard.com

Shella

The duo behind the band, Stella Panacci and Shelley Hamilton,blend country, roots, psychedelic pop and soul, with gorgeous vocal harmonies and melodies that pleasingly linger in the mind. In collaboration with one consummate guitar player, producer and fellow east ender, Tim Bovaconti, they recently released their debut album with an impressive kick-off party at The Hideout here in Toronto. shellamusic.ca

Blair Packham

On any given day, Blair Packham could be co-writing a song for his next album, or singing songs on a ship above the Arctic Circle, or playing a show on Camden Street in Dublin, or in Toronto co-hosting his radio show on Newstalk 1010.  Or maybe he’ll be teaching a class in songwriting at Seneca College, or leading a session at SongStudio, his annual songwriting workshop at the Royal Conservatory of Music.  Once, in the 1980s, best known as lead singer for The Jitters, the power pop band that enjoyed Top Ten success in Canada. Thirty years later, Blair’s songs are still heard on the radio from coast-to-coast. Blair’s a natural storyteller, and like his songs, his stories are often funny, and sometimes they’re heartbreaking. Blair treasures his time on stage, whether solo or with his acoustic trio, The Impossible Dream. Currently, Blair is planning the band’s debut album, and working on new recordings of some very interesting collaborations. blairpackham.com
 

Arlene Bishop

Following the creation of the live album ‘Together Tonight’, performing songwriter Arlene Bishop is working on a new secret project. The beloved live album released in 2018 featured her Spirit of Adventure vorchestra of 31 live singers and a crack band, some of whom will join her on stage for Riverdale Share. Arlene’s new secret project will combine her signature dark songs, funny banter, deep wit, and big heart, with the humble – yet totally attainable – goal of saving the world. arlenebishop.com

Katherine Rose

Shak Shak

Stay tuned. More surprises to come…

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The Riverdale Share Band

Tom Leighton – Musical Arranger, Piano

Tom is back once again with the goal of keeping this amazing house band busy by providing new arrangements for each act. It’s a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful creative team, not to mention the fantastically high calibre of each of the musicians involved.  Tom performs with long time recording partner Mark Haines as well as Anne Lederman, Marie Lynn Hammond and with his multi-talented partner Conrad Kipping.  Tom has a solo CD of orchestrated instrumentals titled Leighton Tendencies and a new instrumental collection titled “Leighton LIFE” .  www.tomleighton.ca

Steve Briggs – Musical Director, Band Leader, Guitar

Steve has played in the Riverdale Share band for many years and joined the artistic team in 2004.  He is an accomplished freelance guitar player and bandleader of the popular western swing band the Bebop Cowboys Swing-a-Billy Orchestra.  As a music instructor, he is the Director of Kitchen Music Studios in Riverdale with his wife Kristin, in addition to teaching at Seneca@York.  He has been featured as “Best Guitar Instructor” in Toronto Life Magazine and has released two instructional CDs. kitchenmusicstudios.com

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Russ Boswell – Bass

Danny Greenspoon – Guitar

Danny is a multi-platinum, award winning record producer, recording engineer and guitar player.  He has produced over fifty albums, including Great Big Sea, Ian Tyson, Colm Wilkinson, Sophie Milman, Jane Bunnett and Spirit of the West, that have garnered 4 Juno Awards and seven EMCAs.  As a guitarist he has performed with Murray McLauchlan, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Sylvia Tyson and The Great Speckled Bird, and The Romaniacs.http://www.theaudiotruck.com/CreditsBio.html

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Wendell Ferguson – Guitar

Wendell Ferguson’s never worked a day in his life. He just plays the guitar. He’s won “Guitar Player of the Year” six years in a row at the Canadian Country Music Awards. His CD; “Wendell Live: The $#!T Hits the Fans” was nominated for the CCMA Album of the Year. His “Menage a Moi” won the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Instrumental. In 2014, Wendell was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. http://www.wendellferguson.com

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Patrick Hornsby – Piano

Patrick lives in Riverdale with his wife Karen and son Dexter.  He works as a teacher for the TDSB and teaches private piano lessons at his home.  He has performed at the Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax jazz festivals and has recorded for CBC Maritimes.

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Bruce Moffett – Drums

Bruce is the one constant in all the years of The Share House Band.  At the time of the first Share concert Bruce was a full time member of award winning country band Prairie Oyster, as well as playing with Mary Margaret O’Hara, Corey Hart, Tom Cochrane, Allana Myles and many more.  Bruce now spends his time running Cherry Jam Rehearsal Studios and PRB his company that provides rental equipment to musicians. http://cherryjamrehearsal.com

Due to illness, after 24 years of loyal service, Bruce will be replaced by John Adames today. We hope to see him back behind his kit next year!

John Adames – Drums

Veteran drummer John Adames has graced stages everywhere from the Rex Hotel here in Toronto to Broadway NYC. He has played with the likes of The Bebop Cowboys and Canadian Country Music Hall of Famers Prairie Oyster has had his share of memorable experiences in the music industry, including the time he was playing in a band named Rough Trade between 1978 and 1979. He’s thrilled to participate in this year’s 25th Anniversary of the Riverdale Share concert.

Kevin Turcotte – Trumpet

Kevin has played on more than one hundred recordings over the last twenty years.  From the Barenaked Ladies, Bruce Cockburn, Mr. Something Something, Planet Earth, Great Uncles of the Revolution, Jayme Stone, The Sicilian Jazz Project and Ricochet, Kevin brings his passion and creativity to each session. He is a long-time member of Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, the Barry Elmes Quintet featuring Ed Bickert and Time Warp.  A past teacher of the University of Toronto Jazz Degree program he is now teaching at York University. http://www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/musicians/kevin-turcotte.html

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Scott Marshall – Saxophone

Toronto–based saxophonist, composer, and arranger Scott Marshall is highly sought-after for his skills within the jazz community, film and television world, and Toronto jobbing scene. Scott’s compositions have been featured on his own releases: The Scott Marshall Trio Face It, The Scott Marshall Quartet Nine Moments of Time and Vignettes. He also co-produced and arranged all the music for singer Lyne Tremblay’s CD Break and Enter. In addition to recording he has performed with a lengthy and diverse list of accomplished musicians including: Norah Jones, Johnny Mathus, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Shuffle Demons, and the Juno-winning big-band NOJO, not to mention Wynton Marsalis stopping by to sit in with his quartet. http://www.scottdouglasmarshall.com/home.html

Gord Meyers – Trombone

Gord has made his living as a freelance trombonist and teacher since 1975. He has worked in numerous theatre orchestras including such productions as Crazy For You, Ragtime, The Lion King, The Producers and Dirty Dancing as well as R&B bands, recording sessions and jazz festival stages. He Has also enjoyed stints with the Charlottetown and Shaw Festival orchestras. Gord teaches at York University and has enjoyed being a member of the Riverdale Share horn section for many years.

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Jonathan Marks – Violin

Jonathan Marks is a classically-trained violinist and a founding member of the Club Django Sextet of Toronto.  “He’s a little young to pass for violin legend Stephane Grappelli, but Jonathan Marks has a good handle on how to swing and how to deliver sweet melodies” (Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star).  Jonathan performs regularly with several groups in Toronto, playing styles which include traditional jazz, musette,and folk/roots. http://www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/musicians/jonathan-marks.html

Anne Lindsay – Violin

Award-winning violinist Anne Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada, adapting her unique violin/fiddle style to the eclectic sounds and musical languages of this country’s rich cultural texture. In addition to being an artist in her own right, she has also performed with The Chieftains, Led Zeppelin, Roger Daltry, Jim Cuddy, Dionne Warwick and Natalie McMaster among many others. She is also an accomplished composer and arranger for documentary film, stage, CDs and radio / TV.

Aaron Dell – Violin

Aaron has been studying classical violin since the age of 10. He graduated from Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in 2012 and was involved in the school band all four years. He has studied with the RCM up to level 9 in piano and 10 in violin. Currently Aaron is in his graduating year at Ryerson’s Theatre Performance Production program. Aaron loves playing in small ensembles and is excited to be here at the Riverdale Share Concert.